In her remarks congratulating Armenia U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton said, "As a partner and a friend the U.S. stands next to Armenia". This of course is a congratulatory letter. However, the U.S. government proves this in action.
Armenia, since the declaration of its independence, has become the second to Israel largest per capita recipient of U.S. financial aid. Regardless of Russian military contingency’s presence on its soil, the U.S. renders comprehensive support to Armenia in various fields, implementing a number of projects aimed at restoration of industry, energy and agriculture infrastructure.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rubin and Coordinator of the U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia Daniel Rosenblum have presided over US-Armenia working group meeting on October the 18th. Customs, taxes, fair competition and trade issues were discussed, and the memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation signed.
Attention is also drawn to recent trend of expanding military cooperation between the two. In September, Lee Tafanelli, the Adjutant general of Kansas paid a visit to Armenia, under the State Partnership Program. There, he was received by Seyran Ohanyan, Minister of Defense of Armenia and Yuri Khachaturov, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. Demining and 5 year cooperation on military healthcare were among the issues discussed during the meetings.
Tafanelli was followed by Ray Mabus, the Secretary of the U.S. Navy, who visited Armenia on October the 29th and met with Seyran Ohanyan, Minister of Defense of Armenia. During the visit, Mabus reiterated the importance of broadening the military cooperation between two countries. Touching upon the cooperation in the defense industry area Mabus underscored expertise exchange in this regard.
It is surely not incidental that U.S military personnel visit Armenia, country that perfectly rests within Russian orbit in terms of security and military industry. The U.S. attempts to deviate Armenia form the Russia’s orbit of influence. Military cooperation added new dimension to the economic, political and financial cooperation agenda, but the extent of U.S. success is yet unknown. It is the very steps in this direction that matter. Although it received certain coverage in the Russian media, officials were reluctant to comment on the issue.
Global advocate of democracy, the U.S.’s sole target and objective is to utilize the notion of democracy successfully, presenting it as the only salvation. Commencing from the cold war to date U.S. has skillfully used this method. During the cold war, the adversary was the USSR (Warsaw Pact), followed by U.S.’s self instigated international terrorism (described as "Islamic terrorism" in the Western literature).
While defining international security, U.S. refers to the one of its own, however, thanks to diversified media resources this is presented to the global audience otherwise.
Large countries, supposedly aiming to safeguard international security, are the very leaders in global arms trade, which constitutes a grave contradiction with their aspirations to become the guardians of peace and stability. Who mostly benefits from the weaponry sales in the hot spots around the world? Would not brokering peace in the conflicts be easier when arms are not sold or "gifted" to hostile parties?
Regardless of positive assessment of Azerbaijan by the U.S. Defense Department within the framework of engagement of South Caucasus states in the coalition against terrorism upon the events of 9/11, Armenia and Georgia substantially exceed Azerbaijan in terms of U.S. economic and financial assistance received. Incomplete abolition of the Amendment 907, hampering direct assistance of the U.S. Government to Azerbaijan, stands out as a notable feature.
Surely, it would be inappropriate to compare Azerbaijan’s potential with that of Armenia’s and Georgia’s. Azerbaijan is far more economically advanced that both of its neighbours. The essence is that militarist policy pursued by Armenia has seriously jeopardized stability in the South Caucasus.
The U.S. imposes economic and political sanctions upon the states that threaten regional and global security, support international terrorism, and that aspire to obtain nuclear arms. In that case principles of justice and the international law should be enforced. Regrettably, U.S. approaches the matter not in the context of safeguarding global security, but rather in line with its own interests. How justified are the economic and political rewards reaped by occupier Armenia when sanctions are imposed on Palestine with its occupied territories, on civil war ravaged Syria and Belarus, allegedly defying democratic values.
The U.S. deemed unnecessary to persuasively pressure Armenia to cooperate on terrorism issues or to review its relations with Armenia, in light of Al-Qaeda members entering the U.S. with Armenian passports and operating on its soil.
In 2002, David Shahnazaryan, former Minister of Security of Armenia under President Levon Ter Petrosyan, made sensational revelations regarding Afghan terrorists, travelling to the U.S. holding Armenian passports. Declining to reveal the source he only mentioned that those issues were indeed discussed between the two countries. Shahnazaryan claims that application of specific visa regulations with regard to Armenian citizens was not at all incidental. U.S. Justice Department enforced visa regime for states supporting international terrorism, and Armenian citizens were not an exception. Armenia happened to be the 21st overall and the first Christian state in the world to be listed. Visa regime was to be enforced with regards to Armenian citizens residing in the U.S. or travelling to the country upon the 16 years of age. Notably, after the events of 9/11 that visa regime was imposed against Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Pakistan and other Muslim states.
Strict visa regime imposed by the U.S. against Armenia was heavily criticized by latter’s authorities and diaspora organizations. Armen Kirakosyan, Armenian ambassador to the U.S., was coordinating the government and diaspora efforts. Diaspora organizations had then mailed thousands of letters to the Justice Department trying to amend the decision.
Murad Topalyan, chairman of the Armenian National Committee, later arrested on terrorism and arms trafficking charges, met with pro-Armenian senators and expressed his concern with the matter. In light of the protest on the part of the Armenian authorities and diaspora organizations on December the 18th, 2002, the U.S. Justice Department had lifted visa regime against Armenia.
Regardless, the U.S. still attempts to broaden its ties with Armenia, turning a blind eye to occupation of Azerbaijani lands, and exploitation of the Armenian armed forces controlled territories for bolstering terrorism, illicit arms and drugs trafficking. While exerting pressure upon other countries engaged in economic cooperation with Iran, Armenia is spared of the negativity, despite acquiring gas from Iran, decision to jointly build hydro electric power plant on Araz River, and facilitation of transit of nuclear weapon components to Tehran.
Dr. Hatem Jabbarli
NewTimes.az